New Chicks

Recently a vicious raccoon chewed its way into the chicken coop and killed one of our hens. We had also lost one or two back in the fall due to age and/or predators. Heather's friendly little bantam just disappeared last fall.

So, it was time to add to the family.

 Five new little chicks, 2 of them are bantams. I don't know what kind the others are.

 Here is Heather holding one of the bantams.

We have 3 of the older girls left. A white one wandered out of this shot.

 Heather, all ready for softball practice,which as you can see, ended up getting rained out. She doesn't need to wear her shirt to practice, but she "wanted to."

An Oasis of Spring

While boiling sap, Heather and Wes enjoy a warm afternoon on an oasis of spring amid the lingering snow cover.

Checking the Buckets

It's been a slow sugaring season.  

Mother Nature seems to be stubborn about giving us just the right conditions for the sap to run. 

Wes has boiled once or twice this season so far.

 The snow is still very deep. If you step of the packed trail, you are likely to sink all the way to your mid thigh as I did a couple of times. 

Heather and I enjoyed the warm walk in the woods,but we'll be glad to see the snow disappear - someday.

Cole's 11th Birthday

The cake. Need I say more?

Grammie and Joanie joined us for a dinner of favorites - meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I'm behind the camera and Wayne is absent from the photo because he was at jazz band rehearsal for a couple of hours.

Opening presents.

Wayne (back from band) gave him an "April Fool's" present which was a box inside of a box, inside of a box, inside of a box, inside of a box (each one wrapped) in which he found a note that led him on little scavenger hunt. Eventually he was lead to a $1 bill hidden behind the TV.

Eleven candles is quite a lot.

Hope you had a great birthday Cole. We love you so much!